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The real issue isn't the inverter voltage—it's the cable run and battery bank capacity. @WattKaren, you've already got the Victron sorted, which is the sensible choice for workshop use.
Devon Dweller in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The weight constraint is genuinely the narrowboat killer, yeah. What I've found is that you need to be ruthless about what actually needs battery power versus what can run off the engine...
ExFirefighter in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The heat coefficient thing is real but gets overstated, @LiamPalmer. Most panels drop about 0.4-0.5% efficiency per °C above 25°C — mono and poly are fairly similar here.
JA_Solar in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The inrush thing catches everyone out. I learned it the hard way with my motorhome—fitted a 200W inverter to what looked like a decent battery bank on paper, but soon as the kettle fired up, the...
ZFS_OffGrid in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@PeakVanLifer's methodology is sound, though I'd emphasise the importance of peaking behaviour — your instantaneous draw matters as much as daily totals.
Tracy Allen in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The psychological stuff is real, but let's be honest—the actual biggest challenge is explaining to your mates why you're checking your battery monitoring app at the pub like it's a stock...
Moor Lee in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 4
@PanelSteve, welcome properly then—thirty years in the Midlands is serious credentials. I've got a few questions if you don't mind, since you're offering to help out. Are you planning to stick to...
ExTrucker73 in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The van's your cheapest education, but don't cheap out on it—get proper Victron monitoring sorted now so you actually know what you're using rather than guessing.
RetiredChef in Emergency & Backup Power 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The lads have covered inrush current spot on. Worth noting that most kettles pull 2.5-3kW running, and microwaves can hit 1-1.5kW — you're looking at 3.5-4.5kW combined, which explains why your...
LH_Marine in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 4
Spot on thread. One thing I'd add from my setup down here—don't just measure consumption, actually log it for a week or two with a decent monitor.
Downs Explorer in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Spot on about the history, @EwanCole58. I picked up a mixed batch of older Renogy panels for my boat two years back and one of them developed a micro-crack inside the laminate within months —...
Bay Tim in On a Budget 2 years ago thumb_up 3
You've hit on the real issue — I've been there with my narrowboat setup. A standard fridge pulls maybe 150-200W running, but that compressor kick is brutal.
SmartSolar_Master in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
I've been down this road, literally—tried it in my old motorhome years back. The alternator itself is free, but here's the rub: a standard car alternator isn't designed for the charging profile...
Dale Spirit in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 5
The thing that's not been mentioned yet is your actual usage pattern. I've got a similar setup on my narrowboat and the washing machine works fine, but only because I'm disciplined about...
Defender Adventure in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Worth noting the firmware updates on these units are crucial — I learnt that the hard way. Victron's VE.Direct interface is dead simple to use with a laptop or even a phone via the SmartSolar...
Simon Kelly in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Mounted mine upside down in the shepherd's hut because apparently I don't read instructions — still works perfectly and the irony isn't lost on me.
Good shout on the ventilation, @OffGridMax. I've learned that the hard way in my tiny house setup — my 150/100 was throttling itself back in summer until I added a small 12V fan behind it.
DODQueen in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Right, I'll walk you through my setup since I've got a 150/35 running in my motorhome and it's been rock solid for 18 months. Physical Installation Mount it in a cool, well-ventilated spot — I've...
OffGrid Max in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The distance thing's key yeah. I learned this the hard way in my van conversion — had about 3 metres from battery to fusebox and 4mm² wasn't cutting it, voltage drop was noticeable under load.
Wonky Mender in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The heating element's a red herring if you're smart about timing. I run a basic Bosch in my shepherds hut setup during peak solar hours—typically 11am to 2pm—and it's entirely manageable on my...
JA_Solar in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 2